Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Dustin Johnson tied for lead heading into final round of Tour Championship.
ATLANTA — Dustin Johnson made one mistake that suddenly put some intrigue into the final day of the PGA Tour season — the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.
Johnson clipped a tree trying to get out of the rough on the 17th hole and made double bogey, and only a birdie on the final hole at East
Lake on Saturday allowed him to shoot a 1-under 69 and regain a share of the lead with Kevin Chappell.
Chappell went from a four-shot deficit on the front nine to a one-shot lead when he made a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th and Johnson made his double bogey. Chappell, still looking for his first PGA Tour victory, shot a 68. They were at 8-under 202. Rory McIlroy and Ryan Moore each had a 66 and have different prizes at stake today. They were two shots behind, still very much in the game after wondering most of the steamy afternoon if Johnson was going to give anyone a chance.
Johnson still has control of the $10 million bonus for winning the FedEx Cup. He only has to win or finish second alone in the Tour Championship to win the cup. McIlroy, five shots behind at the start of the third round, would have to win the Tour Championship and have Johnson finish in a two-way tie for second. Hideki Matsuyama of Japan had a 68 and was three shots behind, while Jason Dufner had a 66 was four back.
Chappell made a David versus Goliath comparison Friday, and it felt like that at times with how far Johnson hits it and the support he had from a Southern crowd. But the California kid never flinched even when he fell behind early, and he has gone 54 holes at East Lake with only one bogey.
Plus, he gets one more crack at the hottest player in golf.
“I got nothing to lose,” Chappell said. “I’m going to go out there and give it all I’ve got, and Dustin is going to play great golf. He’s been in this situation a lot this year, and it will come down to one or two shots.”